Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-15
A FEARFUL STORM.
Terrible Accident in the
Crescenta Canada.
THE HOTEL BLOWN DOWN.
Two Persons Killed-RepOrts Of
Damage Done in Out
lying Towns.

tnau mas ever swept over Ooutilerl
California is the one which starte,
last Saturday night, and at the hou
OF writing is still continuing with un
abated fury along the foothills of tn
Sierra Madre Mountains. Great de
struction has been done to propert,
all through the country and early yes
terday morning the horrors culminat
ed in a tragedy at Crescenta Cana
da, in which two lives were lost ant
fourteen persons lie suffering from thu
effect Of their injuries.
About eight months ago Messrs
Wiley and >anborn erected twenty
four room hotel at Crescenta Canada
in the Canada Valley, twelve miles
north of this city. 1t was built Of
wood and plaster after the style after
houses usually erScted in this southern
country and was opened for the recep-
ton of visitors and a. boarding place
for the residents OF the DISTRICT, Two
weeks ago Edwin NJ. Arnold undef-
took its management, and with his
tiipiiy, consisting of wife and two
children, moved out there, and at
once entered into possession. Quite q
thriving business was done, and when
the present week opened il found the
hotel accommodating a large number
of guests, fifteen of whom were lodg-
ing there. On Saturday night q great
gale arose, and although the hotel
showed no signs Of having
suffered, it was found on
examination that it was scarcely
strong enough to withstand the tenn
pest il it continued much longer. The
wind blew steadily all through Mon
day, Monday night and Tuesday and
1t was decided that on the following
day braces should be placed about
the house SO as to prevent any possi-
bility of accident. On Tuesday night
most of the guests had retired to their
rooms at the usual hour, but few OF
them could sleep, for the wind was
bowling without and the house
creaked and swayed from the effects
Of the fierce currents of air which
came sweeping down the val
ley. About midnight the situation
became SO serious that it was
decided to abandon. the building
and seek shelter until = day
light came, behind some mighty
rock which would serve to ward OFT
the onslaught OF the wind. 1t was
about 1920 when Arnold said to his
wife: "You had better dress yourself
and the children, and we will leave
the hou e." and going to the door he
opened it and looked out into the mid
night blackness without. The wind
almost tore the door from its hinges,
and hastily shutting it he stood inside,
waiting for his wife to join him. Sud
denly there was an awful crash, the
lights were extinguished, and he was
struck to the ground by beam OF
timber, which knocked him monen-
tarily unconscious. When his senses
returned he made vain effort to
escape, but found that he was hemmsd
in by debris aud unable to move,
whereupon he made
LOUD CRIES FOR ASSISTANCE.
In the meantime the neighbors in
the vicinity of the building had be-
come aware of the calamity and has
tenet to the spot with lanterns. On
arrival strange si.ht met their gaze.
A mass of timber piled confusedly
upon the ground occupied the place of
the hotel, and voices implor-
ing assistance sounded forth from
amid the ruins. With willing hands
they at once set to work to clear away
the debris and soon discovered and
released Mr.. Arnold, who at once
shouted for his wife and children.
There was death-like silence broken
moment afterwards by the cry in a
chill lish voice, "Where are you, Papa :?
Oh, where are you?" and then all
was quiet again. The excited father,
frantic in his grief, tore with the
strength OF giant the broken timbers
from around him, and guided by the
cries OF .'Papa, papa" soon found his
youngest child lying bleeding and
bruised amid the fragments of
the walls which encompassed
her. Like Trojans worked all those
who had assembled at the scene, and
soon was to be seen the bleeding form
of Arnold's wife, as she lay IN the
throes of death, while her eldest child
Law by her side mute and motionless,
and evidently far beyond all aid
which human power could furnish.
Arnold was by his wife's side in a
moment and kneeling, lifted her
head from the ground. Blood was
oozing from her temple and her
face was white with the pillor OF
death. but the heart still futtered and
short signs came from beneath her
closed lips" ."Oh, my baby. my
baby" she muttered, and then there
was
AN ACCOUNTING SILENCE,
Broken only by the sobs OF her dis
tracted husband. Once more the lips
moved, and those who watched knew
that she was again calling for her
baby, and then her spirit winged its
flight to its Creator, and she lay a
corpse in her husbands arms. Ten
der hands bore her mangled form and
that of her dead child from the scene,
and after placing the corpses in Sc
Guided spot the search for the missing
was again renewed. One by one they
were found and conveyed to neighbor-
ing shelters, and at last the work was
Q done and all the occupants of the de-
molis he'd building were accounted for.
Every one had been more or less in
jured, and in many cases the escape
from death was simply miraculous.
Mr.. Berry, Of Kentucky, who occupied
a room on the second floor. was
thrown out of the window on to the
ground, but beyond few Commissions,
escaped unhurt.
During the rest of the night the
work Of ministering to the wounded
occupied the attention of all, and by
the corpses Of Lis dead wife and child
sat Arnold in paroxysm Of grief as
had come over his life. No one
dared venture within their houses,
and under the friendly shelter OF
rocks and banks they rested until the
crh nj day sent it's luminous rays over